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Tech billionaire Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, have recently acquired Strancally Castle, a sprawling luxury estate in County Waterford, Ireland. The Meta CEO and Facebook co-founder purchased the historic property, which spans approximately 440 acres along the scenic banks of the Blackwater River, just north of Youghal.
Reports indicate the multi-million-euro transaction was valued between €20 million and €30 million (roughly $23 to $35 million USD). The castle was bought from Michael and Giancarla Alen Buckley, who had owned and lovingly restored the estate for 25 years.
In a statement, the Buckley family expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to preserve the castle and conveyed their best wishes to the Zuckerbergs. “We are delighted that Mark and his family intend to build on our stewardship by continuing to invest in maintaining and enhancing the property and grounds in a sustainable manner,” they said.
Strancally Castle, dating back to the 19th century, features a striking Gothic-style main building with three stories and a basement. The estate is situated on the site of the original Desmond castle ruins and was previously held by the Billensteiner family.
A spokesperson for Zuckerberg confirmed the purchase, noting the family’s enthusiasm for caring for this historic home and their plans to spend time in Ireland, where Meta has its international headquarters. Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has operated its European headquarters out of Dublin since 2009.
This acquisition underscores Zuckerberg’s growing ties to Ireland and his interest in preserving significant historical properties while enjoying the country’s rich heritage.